Image Forming System, Image Forming Method, and Image Forming Apparatus that Transfers a Setting Values Set

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus stores a setting values set including core data independent of a model of the image forming apparatus and non-core data not included in the core data; writes the core data on another image forming apparatus without change, and if the model of the image forming apparatus is the same as the model of the another image forming apparatus, writes the non-core data on the another image forming apparatus without change, while if the model of the image forming apparatus is not the same as the model of the another image forming apparatus, writes the non-core data including a setting value of a function setting in the non core-data that is the same as the function setting in the another image forming apparatus on the another image forming apparatus.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based upon, and claims the benefit of priority from,corresponding Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-035339, filed in theJapan Patent Office on Feb. 19, 2010, the entire contents of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image forming system, an imageforming method, and an image forming apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

An image forming apparatus such as a multifunction peripheral has a copyfunction, a facsimile transmission function, and other functions. Thereare a large number of function settings for respective functions in theimage forming apparatus. Therefore, a certain kind of image formingapparatus has a program function that stores a combination of settingvalues as a setting values set and collectively sets values for thefunction settings by using the setting values set. This allows a user toregister a large number of setting values from the setting values set.

Meanwhile, another kind of image forming apparatus has a function thatacquires a setting values set from a different image forming apparatusand registers the setting values set.

In a case of using the above-described program function, the imageforming apparatus determines whether or not a process can be performedbased on respective function settings from the acquired setting valuesset.

The image forming apparatus includes two or more hundred functionsettings. Therefore, as in the above-described program function, if itmust be determined whether or not a process can be performed based onrespective function settings, it may take a long time to transfer thesetting values set between the image forming apparatuses.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is related to an image forming system and animage forming apparatus that can transfer a setting values set betweenimage forming apparatuses in a short time period.

An image forming system according to an aspect of the present disclosureincludes a first image forming apparatus, a second image formingapparatus, and a terminal device configured to acquire a setting valuesset from the first image forming apparatus and write the acquiredsetting values set on the second image forming apparatus. The settingvalues set includes core data that has a setting value of a functionsetting independent of a model of an image forming apparatus andnon-core data that has a setting value of a function setting notincluded in the core data. The terminal device writes the core data fromthe first image forming apparatus to the second image forming apparatuswithout change. If the model of the first image forming apparatus is thesame as the model of the second image forming apparatus, the terminaldevice writes the non-core data from the first image forming apparatusto the second image forming apparatus without change. If the model ofthe first image forming apparatus is not the same as the model of thesecond image forming apparatus, the terminal device writes the non-coredata having the setting value of the function setting that is the sameas the function setting in the second image forming apparatus to thesecond image forming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure includes a storage device that stores a setting values set.The setting values set includes core data having a setting value of afunction setting independent of a model of the image forming apparatus,and non-core data having a setting value of a function setting notincluded in the core data. A setting values set transmission unit writesthe core data and the non-core data to another image forming apparatus.A transfer management unit causes the setting values set transmissionunit to write the core data in the storage device on the another imageforming apparatus without change. If the model of the image formingapparatus is the same as the model of the another image formingapparatus, the transfer management unit causes the setting values settransmission unit to write the non-core data to the storage device onthe another image forming apparatus without change. If the model of theimage forming apparatus is not the same as the model of the anotherimage forming apparatus, the transfer management unit causes the settingvalues set transmission unit to write the non-core data having thesetting value of the function setting that is the same as the settingvalue in the another image forming apparatus on the another imageforming apparatus.

An image forming apparatus according to another aspect of the presentdisclosure includes a storage device that stores a setting values set.The setting values set includes core data having a setting value of afunction setting independent of a model of the image forming apparatus,and non-core data having a setting value of a function setting notincluded in the core data. A setting values set acquisition unitacquires the setting values set from another image forming apparatus. Atransfer management unit writes the core data acquired from the anotherimage forming apparatus to the storage device without change. If themodel of the image forming apparatus is the same as the model of theanother image forming apparatus, the transfer management unit writes thenon-core data acquired from the another image forming apparatus to thestorage device without change. If the model of the image formingapparatus is not the same as the model of the another image formingapparatus, the transfer management unit writes the non-core data havingthe setting value of the function setting in the another image formingapparatus that is the same as the function setting in the image formingapparatus to the storage device.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will beapparent from the following detailed description and the figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imageforming system according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imageforming apparatus according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of setting values set dataaccording to the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a program list screen fordisplaying a list of setting values sets according to the firstembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a terminaldevice according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer of the setting values setperformed by the terminal device according to the first embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingsystem according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingapparatus according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingsystem according to a third embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingapparatus according to the third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an imageforming system according to a first embodiment. An image formingapparatus 1 is connected to a network 2, and another image formingapparatus 3 is connected to the network 2. In addition, a terminaldevice 4 is connected to the network 2. The image forming apparatuses 1and 3 may be devices such as a printer, a copier, and a multifunctionperipheral.

The image forming apparatus 1 stores a setting values set regarding aplurality of function settings. The image forming apparatus 1 has aprogram function of changing the setting values of a plurality offunction settings to the setting values selected based on a useroperation. The image forming apparatus 3 also has the same or similarprogram function as that of the image forming apparatus 1. The imageforming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 3 may be of a samemodel or different models.

The terminal device 4 communicates with the image forming apparatuses 1and 3 to acquire a setting values set from the image forming apparatus 1and write the acquired setting values set to the image forming apparatus3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the imageforming apparatus 1 of FIG. 1.

The image forming apparatus 1 includes a printer 11, a scanner 12, afacsimile apparatus 13, an operation panel 14, a network interface 15, astorage device 16, and a processor 17.

The printer 11 may be an internal apparatus for printing a documentimage based on print data. The scanner 12 optically reads the documentimage from a document and generates image data based on the documentimage. The facsimile apparatus 13 generates a facsimile signal fromdocument data and transmits the facsimile signal, and receives afacsimile signal and converts the facsimile signal into document data.

The operation panel 14, located on a surface of a casing of the imageforming apparatus 1, includes a display device for displaying variouskinds of information to a user and an input device for detecting a useroperation. For example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) may be used asthe display device. Input devices may include a key switch, a touchpanel, and the like.

The network interface 15 is a circuit connected to the network 2, forperforming data communications with other apparatuses (image formingapparatuses 1 and 3) connected to the network 2. The network interface15 functions as a physical layer of network communications.

The storage device 16 stores various programs and data. The storagedevice 16 stores one or more of setting values set data 21 and settingvalues set list 22.

The setting values set data 21 indicates a relation between functionsettings in a setting values set and setting values.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a structure of the setting values setdata 21. One item of setting values set data 21 may include a header 41,core data 42, and non-core data 43. The header 41 includes modelidentification information, such as a model name and a type, of theimage forming apparatus 1 and optional function information indicatingpresence/absence of, for example, a finisher or presence/absence of anadditional application, and the like. The core data 42 includes asetting value of a function setting independent of the model of an imageforming apparatus. The non-core data 43 includes a setting value of afunction setting not included in the core data 42 and that may bedependent on the model of an image forming apparatus.

Examples of a function setting of the core data 42 may include a sheetsize setting, a number of copies, a magnification setting, an imagequality setting, and the like. It should be noted that, even if afunction setting would normally be included in the core data 42, whenthe range of one or more values that can be set is different between theimage forming apparatuses, the function setting is removed from the coredata 42 and instead added to the non-core data 43.

Examples of function settings of the non-core data 43 may include acolor/monochrome setting, a page aggregation setting, and asort/stacking setting, and the like.

It should be noted that, classification of function settings into thecore data 42 and the non-core data 43 is performed based on a range ofmodels of the image forming apparatus that are to be handled by theimage forming system. As the range of models becomes wider, the numberof function settings to be classified into the core data 42 becomessmaller, and as the range of models becomes narrower, the number offunction settings to be classified into the core data 42 becomes larger.

The setting values set list 22 is a list of the setting values set data21 stored in the storage device 16. For example, the setting values setlist 22 includes registration fields numbered as program numbers 1 to10. At a time of registration, the setting values set data 21 isregistered in any one or more blank registration fields among theprogram numbers 1 to 10. If there are one or more blank registrationfields, the setting values set data 21 is registered in the registrationfield numbered as, for example, a number specified by the user.

The setting values set list 22 is used for calling a correspondingsetting values set. When a predetermined operation is detected via theoperation panel 14 or a host device, a control unit 32 causes theoperation panel 14 or the host device to display the setting values setlist 22 (that is, program list). FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating anexample of a program list screen for displaying a list of the settingvalues sets. As illustrated in FIG. 4, selection buttons correspondingto the functions of setting values set data 21 registered in theregistration fields of the respective numbers are displayed in the orderof the number of the registration field. When one of the selectionbuttons is depressed by the user, the operation is detected, and thecontrol unit 32 reads the setting values set data 21 corresponding tothe depressed selection button, and sets the values specified by thesetting values set data 21 for the respective function settings.

Further, the processor 17 is a computer including a central processingunit (CPU), a read only memory (ROM), and a random access memory (RAM),and the processor 17 loads a program from the ROM, the storage device16, or the like into the RAM, and causes the CPU to execute the program.In this embodiment, a communication control unit 31, the control unit32, and a setting values set generation unit 33 are implemented by theprocessor 17.

The communication control unit 31 controls the network interface 15 toperform data communications with the image forming apparatuses 1 and/or3 connected to the network 2 using a predetermined communicationprotocol.

The control unit 32 performs at least one of data processing and controlof the internal apparatuses (such as printer 11, scanner 12, facsimileapparatus 13, operation panel 14, network interface 15, and storagedevice 16) based on various instructions received from the host deviceby the network interface 15 and the communication control unit 31 andvarious instructions received via the operation panel 14.

When it is detected that a predetermined operation is performed via theoperation panel 14 or the host device by the user, the setting valuesset generation unit 33 identifies current setting values correspondingto the function settings for which the user can set values via theoperation panel 14 or the host device. Then, the setting values setgeneration unit 33 stores a combination of the setting values to thestorage device 16 as the setting values set data 21, and registers thesetting values set data 21 in the setting values set list 22.

For example, the setting values set list 22 may include the registrationfields numbered as the program numbers 1 to 10. The setting values setdata 21 is registered in any one of a blank registration field among theprogram numbers 1 to 10. If there are a plurality of blank registrationfields, the setting values set data 21 is registered in, for example,the registration field numbered as the number specified by the user. Itshould be noted that, when the setting values set data 21 is registered,the program list may be displayed as illustrated in FIG. 4, and the usermay be allowed to select the blank registration field.

The image forming apparatus 1 has the above-described configuration. Theimage forming apparatus 3 may also have the same or similarconfiguration. If the image forming apparatus 1 and the image formingapparatus 3 are the same model, the image forming apparatus 3 includesthe same function settings as the function settings included in theimage forming apparatus 1. On the other hand, if the image formingapparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 3 are not the same model,the image forming apparatus 3 may not include any one of the functionsettings included in the image forming apparatus 1, and may include afunction setting other than the function settings included in the imageforming apparatus 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the terminaldevice 4 of FIG. 1. The terminal device 4 illustrated in FIG. 5 has acentral processing unit (CPU), and executes various programs to executecalculations and processes. For example, a personal computerincorporating a CPU may be used as the terminal device 4.

In the terminal device 4, a display 51 displays an operation screen andthe like. For example, an LCD display may be used as the display device51. An input device 52 generates input by an operation executed via theoperation screen. For example, a keyboard and a mouse may be used as theinput device 52. A graphics circuit performs a drawing process and anoutput of a video signal, and the display 51 displays a screencorresponding to the video signal. An interface performstransmission/reception of data to/from the input device 52.

A network interface 53 that performs data communications includes acircuit connected to the network 2.

A storage device 54 includes a recording medium for storing an operatingsystem, various programs, and various data. Used as the storage device54 may be a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, a hard disk drive, or adisk array system.

In this embodiment, a setting values set transfer program 61 is storedin the storage device 54.

The setting values set transfer program 61 is a program that acquires asetting values set from the image forming apparatus (here, image formingapparatus 1) and writes the setting values set data 21 based on thesetting values set to the another image forming apparatus (here, imageforming apparatus 3).

It should be noted that, the setting values set transfer program 61 maybe recorded in a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM or aDVD-ROM, and the recording medium may be distributed. In that case, thesetting values set transfer program 61 is installed from the recordingmedium to the terminal device 4.

A CPU 55 is a processor that executes a process described in a program.A ROM 56 is a nonvolatile memory that prestores a program and data. ARAM 57 is a memory that temporarily stores a program and data when theprogram is being executed. The CPU 55, the ROM 56, and the RAM 57 areconnected via a bus and a controller chip, and may further be connectedto the storage device 54, the network interface 53, the graphics circuitof the display device 51, and the interface of the input device 52 viathe bus and the controller chip.

The CPU 55 loads a program stored in the storage device 54 or the ROM 56into the RAM 57 and executes the program. The one or more processesdescribed in the program are executed.

A transfer management unit 71, a setting values set acquisition unit 72,a setting values set editing unit 73, and a setting values settransmission unit 74 may be implemented by execution of the settingvalues set transfer program 61.

The transfer management unit 71 manages the transfer of the settingvalues set data 21 from the image forming apparatus 1 to the anotherimage forming apparatus 3.

The transfer management unit 71 causes the setting values settransmission unit 74 to write the core data 42 of the setting values setfrom the image forming apparatus 1 as core data of the setting valuesset to the image forming apparatus 3, without change.

If the model of the image forming apparatus 1 is the same as the modelof the image forming apparatus 3, the transfer management unit 71 causesthe setting values set transmission unit 74 to write the non-core data43 of the setting values set as non-core data of the setting values setto the image forming apparatus 3 without change. On the other hand, ifthe model of the image forming apparatus 1 is not the same as the modelof the image forming apparatus 3, the transfer management unit 71 causesthe setting values set transmission unit 74 to write non-core dataincluding the setting values of the function settings in the imageforming apparatus 1 that are the same as the function settings in theimage forming apparatus 3 as non-core data to the image formingapparatus 3. It should be noted that, the transfer management unit 71may identify the model of the image forming apparatus 1 from the header41 of the setting values set, and may inquire the control unit 32 of theimage forming apparatus 3 to identify the model of the image formingapparatus 3.

The setting values set acquisition unit 72 acquires the setting valuesset (setting values set data 21) from the image forming apparatus 1. Thesetting values set acquisition unit 72 may acquire the header 41, thecore data 42, and the non-core data 43 separately or collectively.

If the model of the image forming apparatus 1 is not the same as themodel of the image forming apparatus 3, the setting values set editingunit 73 generates non-core data including the values of the functionsettings included in the image forming apparatus 3 other than thefunction settings of the core data. In that case, the setting values setediting unit 73 generates a header of the image forming apparatus 3 withthe non-core data.

For example, the setting values set editing unit 73 acquires thefunction settings (that is, function setting list of the non-core datain the image forming apparatus 3) included in the image formingapparatus 3 other than the function settings of the core data anddefault values from the control unit 32 of the image forming apparatus3, and generates the non-core data for the image forming apparatus 3.

Further, for example, the setting values set editing unit 73 acquiresthe function settings (that is, function setting list of the non-coredata of the image forming apparatus 3) included in the image formingapparatus 3 other than the function settings of the core data from thecontrol unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 3. Then, the settingvalues set editing unit 73 generates the non-core data of the imageforming apparatus 3 from the values specified for the respectivefunction settings via the user operation on the terminal device 4.

The setting values set transmission unit 74 writes the header 41, thecore data 42, and the non-core data 43 to the image forming apparatus 3.The core data 42 is the same as that acquired by the setting values setacquisition unit 72. The header 41 and the non-core data 43 are the sameas those acquired by the setting values set acquisition unit 72 or thosegenerated by the setting values set editing unit 73. It should be notedthat, the setting values set transmission unit 74 may write the header41, the core data 42, and the non-core data 43 to the image formingapparatus 3 separately or collectively.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a transfer of the setting values setperformed by the terminal device 4 according to the first embodiment.

First, the transfer management unit 71 uses the network interface 53 tosearch for image forming apparatuses connected to the network 2. Then,the transfer management unit 71 causes the display 51 to display a listof the image forming apparatuses on the network 2 (here, image formingapparatuses 1 and 3), and via the user operation on the input device 52,selects the image forming apparatus (here, image forming apparatus 1) tobe a transfer source of the setting values set and the image formingapparatus (here, image forming apparatus 3) to be a transfer destinationfrom the list (Steps S1 and S2). At this time, the transfer managementunit 71 may search for the image forming apparatus that satisfies apredetermined condition (for example, whether or not the image formingapparatus belongs to a predetermined model group).

Subsequently, the transfer management unit 71 acquires the program listfrom the image forming apparatus 1 as the transfer source, and causesthe display 51 to display the program list. At this time, the transfermanagement unit 71 communicates with the control unit 32 of the imageforming apparatus 1 using a communication protocol such as a simplenetwork management protocol (SNMP) or a hypertext transfer protocol(HTTP). The control unit 32 reads the setting values set list 22, andtransmits the setting values set list 22 to the transfer management unit71. A user operation is performed for selecting a program numbercorresponding to the setting values set from the program list on theinput device 52. When the user operation is detected, the transfermanagement unit 71 selects the setting values set that is transferredvia the user operation (Step S3).

Further, the transfer management unit 71 acquires the program list fromthe image forming apparatus 3 as the transfer destination, and causesthe display 51 to display the program list. At this time, the transfermanagement unit 71 communicates with the control unit of the imageforming apparatus 3 using a predetermined communication protocol such asSNMP or HTTP. The control unit 32 reads the setting values set list 22,and transmits the setting values set list 22 to the transfer managementunit 71. A user operation is performed for selecting the program numberas a writing destination of the setting values set from the program liston the input device 52. When the user operation is detected, thetransfer management unit 71 selects the writing destination of thesetting values set that is transferred via the user operation (Step S4).

When the setting values set that is to be transferred and the writingdestination are selected, the transfer management unit 71 causes thesetting values set acquisition unit 72 to acquire the setting values setdata 21. The setting values set acquisition unit 72 acquires the settingvalues set data 21 on the selected setting values set from the imageforming apparatus 1 (Step S5). Then, when the setting values set data 21is acquired, the transfer management unit 71 causes the setting valuesset transmission unit 74 to write the core data 42 in the acquiredsetting values set data 21 to the image forming apparatus 3. The settingvalues set transmission unit 74 transmits the core data 42 in theacquired setting values set data 21 to the control unit 32 of the imageforming apparatus 3, and writes the core data 42 on the selected writingdestination at the image forming apparatus 3 (that is, as the core data42 on the writing destination) (Step S6).

Subsequently, the transfer management unit 71 communicates with thecontrol unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 3, and acquires the modelidentification information of the image forming apparatus 3. It shouldbe noted that, in Step S4, the transfer management unit 71 may acquirethe model identification information with the program list. Then, thetransfer management unit 71 acquires the model identificationinformation to the image forming apparatus 1 from the header 41 of thesetting values set data 21 acquired from the image forming apparatus 1,and determines from the model identification information whether or notthe image forming apparatus 1 and the image forming apparatus 3 are thesame model (Step S7).

If it is determined that the image forming apparatus 1 and the imageforming apparatus 3 are the same model, the transfer management unit 71causes the setting values set transmission unit 74 to write the non-coredata 43 corresponding to the core data 42 written in Step S6 to theimage forming apparatus 3. The setting values set transmission unit 74transmits the non-core data 43 of the setting values set data 21acquired from the image forming apparatus 1 to the control unit 32 ofthe image forming apparatus 3, and writes the non-core data 43 to theselected writing destination at the image forming apparatus 3 (Step S8).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the image forming apparatus1 and the image forming apparatus 3 are not the same model, the transfermanagement unit 71 determines, based on editing mode data set via theuser operation in advance, whether or not the non-core data is to beedited (Step S9).

If it is determined that the non-core data is not to be edited via theuser operation, the transfer management unit 71 causes the settingvalues set editing unit 73 to automatically generate the non-core datafor the image forming apparatus 3. The setting values set editing unit73 acquires the function settings of the non-core data from the imageforming apparatus 3 and the default values from the control unit 32 ofthe image forming apparatus 3, and generates the non-core data for theimage forming apparatus 3 from the acquired function settings anddefault values (Step S10).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the non-core data is to beedited according to the user operation, the transfer management unit 71causes the setting values set editing unit 73 to generate the non-coredata for the image forming apparatus 3 according to the user operation.The setting values set editing unit 73 acquires, from the control unit32 of the image forming apparatus 3, the function setting list of thenon-core data to the image forming apparatus 3 and permitted valueinformation (such as options that can be set and at least one of upperand lower limits of the options that can be set) on the respectivefunction settings. The setting values set editing unit 73 causes thedisplay 51 to display an input screen for inputting setting valuescorresponding to the respective function settings in the acquired list,and decides the setting values of the respective function settings thatmatch the permitted value information via the user operation of theinput device 52. After that, the setting values set editing unit 73 usesthe setting values to generate the non-core data for the image formingapparatus 3 (Step S11).

When the non-core data is generated in Step S10 or S11, the transfermanagement unit 71 causes the setting values set transmission unit 74 towrite the generated non-core data to the image forming apparatus 3 asthe non-core data corresponding to the core data 42 written in Step S6.The setting values set transmission unit 74 transmits the generatednon-core data to the control unit 32 of the image forming apparatus 3,and writes the non-core data to the selected writing destination at theimage forming apparatus 3 (Step S8).

According to the above-described first embodiment, the setting valuesset includes the core data having a setting value of a function settingindependent of the model of the image forming apparatus and the non-coredata having a setting value of a function setting not being included inthe core data. The terminal device 4 writes the core data in the imageforming apparatus 1 as the core data to the image forming apparatus 3without change. If the model of the image forming apparatus 1 is thesame as the model of the image forming apparatus 3, the terminal device4 writes the non-core data to the image forming apparatus 1 as thenon-core data to the image forming apparatus 3 without change. If themodel of the image forming apparatus 1 is not the same as the model ofthe image forming apparatus 3, the terminal device 4 writes the non-coredata including the setting value of a function setting in the imageforming apparatus 1 that is the same as the function setting in theimage forming apparatus 3 as the non-core data to the image formingapparatus 3.

Accordingly, the core data is immediately written to the image formingapparatus as the transfer destination, and hence the transfer of thesetting values set can be executed between the image forming apparatusesin a short time period. That is, with regard to the core data, even ifthe model of the transfer source and the model of the transferdestination are different, it is unnecessary to determine consistency ofeach of the function settings, which can shorten a time required totransfer the setting values set.

An image forming apparatus according to a second embodiment of thepresent disclosure transfers and writes the setting values set in theimage forming apparatus on another image forming apparatus. That is, theimage forming apparatus according to the second embodiment has the sameor similar function as that of the terminal device 4 according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingsystem according to the second embodiment. In the image forming systemillustrated in FIG. 7, an image forming apparatus 101 according to thesecond embodiment is connected to the network 2, and the setting valuesset is written from the image forming apparatus 101 to the image formingapparatus 3 via the network 2.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image formingapparatus 101 according to the second embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 101 includes a printer 111, a scanner 112, afacsimile apparatus 113, an operation panel 114, a network interface115, a storage device 116, and a processor 117. The printer 111, thescanner 112, the facsimile apparatus 113, the operation panel 114, thenetwork interface 115, the storage device 116, and the processor 117 aresubstantially the same as the printer 11, the scanner 12, the facsimileapparatus 13, the operation panel 14, the network interface 15, thestorage device 16, and the processor 17 according to the firstembodiment, respectively.

Setting values set data 121 and a setting values set list 122 includedin the storage device 116 are also substantially the same as the settingvalues set data 21 and the setting values set list 22 according to thefirst embodiment, respectively.

In the second embodiment, not only are a communication control unit 131,a control unit 132, and a setting values set generation unit 133implemented by the processor 117, but also a transfer management unit171, a setting values set editing unit 173, and the setting values settransmission unit 174.

The communication control unit 131, the control unit 132, and thesetting values set generation unit 133 have the same or similar functionas that of the communication control unit 31, the control unit 32, andthe setting values set generation unit 33 according to the firstembodiment, respectively.

The transfer management unit 171, the setting values set editing unit173, and the setting values set transmission unit 174 have the same orsimilar function as that of the transfer management unit 71, the settingvalues set editing unit 73, and the setting values set transmission unit74, respectively according to the first embodiment. However, thetransfer management unit 171 further has a function of reading thesetting values set data 121 of the setting values set that is to betransferred from the storage device 116. That is, the transfermanagement unit 171 has a function of the transfer management unit 71and the setting values set acquisition unit 72.

In the second embodiment, in accordance with the flowchart illustratedin FIG. 6, the transfer management unit 171, the setting values setediting unit 173, and the setting values set transmission unit 174operate as the transfer management unit 71 and the setting values setacquisition unit 72, the setting values set editing unit 73, and thesetting values set transmission unit 74 according to the firstembodiment, respectively. In this case, the operation panel 114 is usedas a user interface in place of the display 51 and the input device 52according to the first embodiment.

It should be noted that, since the image forming apparatus 100 includesthe functions of the terminal device 4, the process of Step S1 does notneed to be executed by image forming apparatus 100.

According to the above-described second embodiment, the image formingapparatus 101 writes the core data in the image forming apparatus 101 asthe core data to the image forming apparatus 3 without change. If themodel of the image forming apparatus 101 is the same as the model of theimage forming apparatus 3, the non-core data in the image formingapparatus 101 is written as the non-core data to the image formingapparatus 3 without change. If the model of the image forming apparatus101 is not the same as the model of the image forming apparatus 3, thenon-core data including the setting value of the function setting in theimage forming apparatus 101 that is the same as the function setting inthe image forming apparatus 3 is written as the non-core data to theimage forming apparatus 3.

Accordingly, the core data is immediately written to the image formingapparatus 3 as the transfer destination, and hence the transfer of thesetting values set can be executed between the image forming apparatuses(e.g., 101 and 3) in a short time period. That is, with regard to thecore data, even if the model of the transfer source and the model of thetransfer destination are different, it is unnecessary to determineconsistency of each of the function settings, which can shorten a timerequired to transfer the setting values set.

An image forming apparatus according to a third embodiment of thepresent disclosure acquires the setting values set in another imageforming apparatus and registers the setting values set as the settingvalues set of the image forming apparatus. That is, the image formingapparatus according to the third embodiment of the present disclosurehas the same function as that of the terminal device 4 according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image formingsystem according to the third embodiment. In the image forming systemillustrated in FIG. 9, an image forming apparatus 103 according to thethird embodiment is connected to the network 2, and the setting valuesset is transferred from the image forming apparatus 1 to the imageforming apparatus 103 via the network 2. Then, the image formingapparatus 103 stores the setting values set.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the image formingapparatus 103 according to the third embodiment.

The image forming apparatus 103 includes a printer 211, a scanner 212, afacsimile apparatus 213, an operation panel 214, a network interface215, a storage device 216, and a processor 217. The printer 211, thescanner 212, the facsimile apparatus 213, the operation panel 214, thenetwork interface 215, the storage device 216, and the processor 217have the same or similar function as that of the printer 11, the scanner12, the facsimile apparatus 13, the operation panel 14, the networkinterface 15, the storage device 16, and the processor 17 according tothe first embodiment, respectively.

Setting values set data 221 and a setting values set list 222 in thestorage device 216 are also substantially the same as the setting valuesset data 21 and the setting values set list 22 according to the firstembodiment, respectively.

However, in the third embodiment, not only are a communication controlunit 231, a control unit 232, and a setting values set generation unit233 implemented by the processor 217, but also a transfer managementunit 271, a setting values set acquisition unit 272, and a settingvalues set editing unit 273.

The communication control unit 231, the control unit 232, and thesetting values set generation unit 233 have the same or similar functionas that of the communication control unit 31, the control unit 32, andthe setting values set generation unit 33 according to the firstembodiment, respectively.

The transfer management unit 271, the setting values set acquisitionunit 272, and the setting values set editing unit 273 have the same orsimilar function as that of the transfer management unit 71, the settingvalues set acquisition unit 72, and the setting values set editing unit73, respectively according to the first embodiment. However, thetransfer management unit 271 further has a function of registering thesetting values set that is transferred to the program list (that is,writing the setting values set to the storage device 216). In otherwords, the transfer management unit 271 has the functions of thetransfer management unit 71 and the setting values set transmission unit74.

In the third embodiment, in accordance with the flowchart illustrated inFIG. 6, the transfer management unit 271, the setting values setacquisition unit 272 and the setting values set editing unit 273 operateas the transfer management unit 71 and the setting values settransmission unit 74, the setting values set acquisition unit 72, andthe setting values set editing unit 73 according to the firstembodiment, respectively. In this case, the operation panel 214 is usedas a user interface similar to the display 51 and the input device 52according to the first embodiment.

It should be noted that, since the image forming apparatus 103 includesthe functions of the terminal device 4, the process of Step S2 does notneed to be executed at image forming apparatus 103.

According to the above-described third embodiment, the image formingapparatus 103 writes the core data from the image forming apparatus 1 asthe core data to the image forming apparatus 103 without change. If themodel of the image forming apparatus 103 is the same as the model of theimage forming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 103 writes thenon-core data in the image forming apparatus 1 as the non-core data tothe image forming apparatus 103 without change. If the model of theimage forming apparatus 103 is not the same as the model of the imageforming apparatus 1, the image forming apparatus 103 writes the non-coredata including the setting value of the function setting in the imageforming apparatus 1 that is the same as the function setting in theimage forming apparatus 103 as the non-core data on the image formingapparatus 103.

Accordingly, the core data is immediately written to the image formingapparatus 103 as the transfer destination, and hence the transfer of thesetting values set can be executed between the image forming apparatuses(e.g., 1 and 103) in a short time period. That is, with regard to thecore data, even if the model of the transfer source and the model of thetransfer destination are different, it is unnecessary to determineconsistency of each of the function settings, which can shorten a timerequired to transfer the setting values set.

The present disclosure of the embodiments includes various otherembodiments. For example, other designs can be used in which theabove-described components are each performed.

For example, in the above-described embodiments, the header 41 is alsowritten to the image forming apparatus as the transfer destination withthe core data 42, but the image forming apparatus as the transferdestination itself may generate and write the header 41.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the non-core data 43 isalso written to the image forming apparatus as the transfer destinationwith the core data 42, but the image forming apparatus as the transferdestination itself may generate and write the default value as thesetting value of the non-core data.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the following alternatedesign may be implemented. A plurality of model groups may be set withthe setting values set, and a range of the core data 42 (that is,function settings belonging to the core data 42) that is differentaccording to the model group may be set in advance. When the settingvalues set data 21 is read from an image forming apparatus as thetransfer source, the model group to which both the image formingapparatus of the transfer source and the image forming apparatus of thetransfer destination belong may be selected to build the core data 42 ina range of the function settings corresponding to the model group andthe non-core data 43 with the other function settings.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, an alert message thatprompts the use of a default value may be displayed in Step S10.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the following alternativemay be implemented. The lists of optional functions included in theimage forming apparatuses as the transfer source and the transferdestination are acquired from the control unit 32. Even if the model ofthe image forming apparatus as the transfer source is the same as themodel of the image forming apparatus as the transfer destination, whenan optional function included in the image forming apparatus as thetransfer source is not included in the image forming apparatus as thetransfer destination, it may be recognized that both the models are notthe same. Accordingly, even if the value of the function settingcorresponding to the optional function is included in the non-core data,the setting values set is transferred appropriately.

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the data communicationsbetween the image forming apparatuses may be executed using a webservice description language (WSDL).

The present disclosure can be applied to the transfer/copy of thesetting values set between the image forming apparatuses in an imageforming system in which, for example, a plurality of image formingapparatuses such as a printer, a copier, and a multifunction peripheralare connected to an intranet.

It should be understood that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present subjectmatter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is thereforeintended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appendedclaims.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. An image forming apparatus, comprising: a storagedevice configured to store a setting values set that comprises: coredata that includes a setting value of a function setting independent ofa model of an image forming apparatus; and non-core data that includes asetting value of a function setting not included in the core data andthat may be dependent on a model of an image forming apparatus; asetting values set transmission unit configured to write the core dataand the non-core data on another image forming apparatus; and a transfermanagement unit configured to cause the setting values set transmissionunit to write the core data in the storage device on the another imageforming apparatus without change, and if the model of the image formingapparatus is the same as the model of the another image formingapparatus, write the non-core data in the storage device on the anotherimage forming apparatus without change, while if the model of the imageforming apparatus is not the same as the model of the another imageforming apparatus, write the non-core data including the setting valueof the function setting that is the same as a function setting in theanother image forming apparatus on the another image forming apparatus.10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein thetransfer management unit uses a default setting value in the anotherimage forming apparatus as the setting value of the non-core data if themodel of the image forming apparatus is not the same as the model of theanother image forming apparatus.
 11. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein the transfer management unit acquires afunction setting list of the non-core data from the another imageforming apparatus and uses a setting value specified via a useroperation as the setting value of the non-core data corresponding to thefunction setting list if the model of the image forming apparatus is notthe same as the model of the another image forming apparatus.
 12. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the transfermanagement unit selects the setting values set from a list of thesetting values sets, acquires a writing destination list of the settingvalues sets from the another image forming apparatus, and selects awriting destination of the setting values set from the writingdestination list.
 13. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9,wherein the transfer management unit recognizes the model of the imageforming apparatus as not being the same as the model of the anotherimage forming apparatus in response to determining that an optionalfunction included in the image forming apparatus is not included in theanother image forming apparatus even if the model of the image formingapparatus is the same as the model of the another image formingapparatus.
 14. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, whereinthe function setting in the core data independent of a model of an imageforming apparatus is one of a sheet size setting, a number of copiessetting, a magnification setting, and an image quality setting.
 15. Theimage forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the functionsetting in the non-core data that may depend on a model of an imageforming apparatus is one of a color/monochrome setting, a pageaggregation setting, and a sort/stacking setting. 16-20. (canceled)